E3 2003: Mega Man X7

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Mega Man celebrates his birthday on the PS2.

By Kaiser Hwang

When I was fifteen, I was in my junior year of high school wasting my life away by playing guitar in the garage and riding my skateboard around town. Mega Man, on the other hand, is about to make his Playstation 2 debut for his fifteenth birthday with his latest action-adventure game, Mega Man X7.

Scheduled for release this October, Mega Man X7 will take Mega Man and his trusted friend, Zero, on a new 3D adventure that should be their greatest yet. Because the Mega Man games gained much of their popularity by being some of the greatest 2D action games ever created, many gamers were unhappy with his move to 3D in Mega Man Legends. So, news that a new 3D Mega Man game is coming may not be what you're wanting to hear. But there's hope yet. Unlike the adventure-themed Legends, Mega Man X7 should be an all-out platforming shootout that will feature not only 3D segments, but also traditional 2D side-scrolling stages (though they will be rendered in 3D, similar to Namco's Klonoa). Yes!

Additionally, Mega Man X7 will incorporate levels that feature a 1/4 overhead view, similar to that found in many strategy games. How these levels will play out is unknown, but the diverse selection of perspectives should allow for a familiar, yet fresh Mega Man experience.

Another feature found in Mega Man X7 is the Double Hero system. This system gives players the ability to form a team of two heroes by selecting two characters from Mega Man X, or Axl, a new character to the Mega Man universe. The only detail we currently know about Axl is that he will have unique abilities that will add a more strategic element to the game. Besides the inclusion of a lock-on attack system, more details on Mega Man X7 are scarce.

We'll have more on Mega Man X7, including hands-on impressions, as E3 continues. Don't forget to check the media page linked below for a boatload of new, high-res screenshots and artwork. Happy birthday Mega Man!